Friday, December 10, 2021

Welcome Back Waterloo guide updated for winter term

In September, we announced our plans for the Winter term, which include a return to pre-pandemic levels of instruction. In addition, we are preparing for more in-person experiences.

If you have questions about what that means for you, you’re not alone.

The Welcome Back Waterloo guide contains information for employees and students about what to expect in the Winter term. Employees can find guidance on meeting protocols, Health and Safety procedures, parking, travel, and mental health supports. Students can use the guide to find out more about campus life, current guidelines, and resources to support their transition.

“There will be days you feel excited about in-person learning, working and re-connecting with friends,” says a note from President and Vice-Chancellor Vivek Goel. “There may also be moments of uncertainty. This is normal. We have all experienced a lot of change during the pandemic. It’s important that you know there are many people, resources, and activities to support you. Please also know that hundreds of our employees have been preparing to welcome you to campus.”

“I hope this guide gives you some information and confidence as you plan your return to campus. We want to be a community that shows genuine care and concern for all students, faculty and staff.”

The information in this guide is current as of December 9, 2021. We will remain nimble as we adapt to government and public health guidance, and any changes to these plans will be communicated by email.

Access the guide.

Protect or retreat: rising seas threaten Canada's Atlantic and Pacific Coasts

This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

As witnessed in recent weeks, rising seas, swollen atmospheric rivers and post-tropical storms are a threat to community infrastructure, housing and the safety of those living along Canada’s east and west coasts. In response, new guidance from the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo, presents practical solutions to limit the financial and social costs of these evolving risks.

The majority of Canada’s coastal population lives directly on the Atlantic (east) and Pacific (west) coastlines, where rising sea levels, storm surges, and high tides can act together to cause flooding, with damaging impacts on communities and infrastructure. The need to rapidly combat these threats is underscored in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report, which highlights that sea-level rise is locked-in “for centuries to millennia to come.”

The new guidance, supported by the Standards Council of Canada, the National Research Council of Canada, and Infrastructure Canada, catalogues approaches falling under two types of coastal protection:

• Traditional Grey Infrastructure: Hard, engineered coastal protection measures, such as seawalls, dikes, and barriers; and
• Nature-Based Solutions: Measures that depend on, or mimic, natural systems to manage flood and erosion risk, such as saltmarsh restoration or replenishing beach and dune systems with sand.

Nature-based solutions in particular have a vital role in managing coastal flood and erosion risk in Canada. International experience demonstrates that these measures not only provide protection against coastal flooding and erosion, but can also deliver multiple benefits, including improved biodiversity, carbon sequestration and storage, enhanced social wellbeing and tourism.

“We can no longer manage coastal risks by endlessly fighting against natural processes,” said report author, Joanna Eyquem, managing director of Climate-Resilient Infrastructure at the Intact Centre. “There are real win-win opportunities to work with nature in the long-term, with multiple benefits for the community and beyond.”

The report identifies three interventions to scale up the use of nature-based solutions for coastal protection in Canada:

• National standards that help factor the benefits of nature-based solutions into decision-making;
• Performance monitoring to demonstrate where and how nature-based solutions can work best in Canada; and
• Engagement of the private sector to help finance and deliver nature-based solutions, as part of adaptation finance.

The report also stresses that it is not necessary to choose between “green” or “grey” infrastructure solutions. As with climate adaptation and the reduction of greenhouse gases, both approaches can and should be considered and used together.

“As this year’s devastating floods in BC have shown, we are still not doing enough to defend our communities from the extreme impacts of climate change,” said Chantal Guay, CEO of the Standards Council of Canada. “In this new normal, all adaptation solutions—including those that harness the power of nature—need to be on the table. By compiling case studies and best practices of coastal protection across Canada, this report is an important resource for all coastal communities seeking to guard against the effects of climate change. The report also recommends the development of new National Standards, which have a key role to play in mainstreaming the use of nature-based solutions in coastal adaptation.”

The complete report is available online from the Intact Centre and the Standards Council of Canada.

IDPD 2021 keynote recording and follow-up survey available

A message from the Office of the Associate Provost, Human Resources.

Thanks to all who attended the 2021 International Day of Persons with Disabilities keynote event with Chris Downey on Dec 3. We hope that you found the event informative and engaging. As one of the few blind architects currently working in the world, Chris shared his story and journey, discussed the tools he uses to continue designing, gave us a brief sample of how he navigates and explores the world around him, and provided examples on accessible environments that benefit everyone. 

If you were unable to attend or simply wish to revisit key moments of the talk, a recording of the event is available to watch on Microsoft Stream available until Dec 23 (login required).

As well, we would love to hear your thoughts and feedback as an attendee. Please take a few minutes to answer this quick survey on the event. Your feedback is helpful for planning any future events on the topic of accessibility.

Vaccinating children against COVID-19

By Natalie Quinlan. This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

Within the initial 12 hours of opening, Ontario reported more than 68,000 bookings to vaccinate children against COVID-19.

The wave of interest in the newly approved Pfizer-BioNTech for those aged five to 11 has health experts weighing in on the benefits and rare risks associated with the shot.

“Unvaccinated people are much more likely to get COVID-19, which can cause serious illness and death in any child,” says Kelly Grindrod, a pharmacist and professor with Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy. “In vaccine trials, children who got two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine had a 91 per cent lower chance of getting sick with the virus and experiencing long-term health effect afterwards — it also protects children from getting sick with the Delta variant.”

Long COVID — otherwise known as “post COVID-19 condition” — is being used to describe the range of symptoms that persist for weeks or months after a COVID-19 infection. It’s the reality some have faced after contracting the virus with symptoms ranging from cognitive impairment or brain fog, to heart symptoms like chest pain and palpitations. As with adults, vaccinating children can significantly increase one’s protection against contracting the virus and experiencing long COVID symptoms as a result.

“The Pfizer vaccine for children uses a lower dose than what’s given to teens and adults. Smaller vaccine doses for children work well because children have stronger immune responses than adults,” says Dr. Andrea Chittle, a primary care physician and Master of Public Health student at the University of Waterloo. “No new serious side effects were seen in the Pfizer vaccine trials for children. We know these vaccines are safe for people who have allergies to foods, drugs, insect stings or other vaccines.”

According to Dr. Chittle, for every one million Pfizer doses given to people aged 12 and older, only two to eight cases of anaphylaxis occurred — a severe allergic reaction— highlighting the rarity of side effects.

Boosters for adults now available

As parents book their children up for vaccines, adults like Waterloo’s President and Vice-Chancellor Vivek Goel are preparing to receive his third dose, otherwise known as a booster shot.

“It’s important that we remain in this together and do our part,” Goel says. “It’s also encouraging to see so many parents and guardians being proactive in the effort to protect their children against COVID-19. Vaccines are very effective, and boosters add another layer of protection for myself and my community.  I encourage everyone to get their booster as they become eligible.”

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As of November 6, booster shots are available six months after the second dose for those considered high-risk, aged 70 or older, are health-care workers or essential caregivers in congregate settings, people who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of Janssen, and First Nations, Inuit and Metis adults and their non-Indigenous household members.

Ontario residents can continue to book their vaccination and booster appointments through the province’s website.

Faculty of Environment releases 2021 Holiday video

In keeping with tradition, the Faculty of Environment has released its annual holiday video.

"It’s a light-hearted nod to the Zoom call challenges and social distancing measures that have marked another challenging year, and a celebration of the resilience and resolve that have kept our community moving forward towards, what we all hope, is a brighter, more connected 2022," says a statement from the Faculty. "However you celebrate this time of year, we hope it’s full of good friends, family and lots of fond memories."